“Misra Records has a history of dropping hot new shit to celebrate Pride Month. Exactly one year ago, the label released a split pink vinyl with indie rockers Holopaw and Sleeping States. This time around, in the spirit of rainbow flags, tiny speedos, strap-ons, and everything else that is holy, they’re dropping a remix of Holopaw’s ‘Dirty Boots (He Don’t)’ by Michael Johnson (Ape School and former Holopaw member). You remember “Dirty Boots (He Don’t)”? We premiered the music video right here on VICE.com. That video was so hot, even the straight dudes in the office were popping biker-induced boners. Michael’s remix of the original track, however, ups the ante with a smooth elixir of the drum machine and funky bass that gets the blood pumping to all the right places. Whether you’re gay, straight, bisexual, or even if you just love yourself (I see you, asexuals!) give the remix a listen and wave that sexually ambiguous flag proudly.”

The Sleeping States / Holopaw Old vs. New EP b/w Through ‘Til The Morning EP is out today in celebration of LGBT Pride Month! That’s right – a 45 RPM split 12″ on pink vinyl via two openly gay frontmen! More details below.

>>> ORDER here. Portion of proceeds to Point Foundation – an organization designed to help LGBTQ students achieve their full academic and leadership potential, despite obstacles put before them (pointfoundation.org).

Please note: a portion of proceeds from album sales will go to The Point Foundation–an organization designed to help LGBTQ students achieve their full academic and leadership potential, despite obstacles put before them (pointfoundation.org).

Misra Records is celebrating LGBT Pride Month in a really interesting way with this baffling new release from Holopaw (split with Sleeping States). Basically what happened here is Brian Deck and Benny Massarella of Califone (who announced their new album today) took Holopaw’s recent album, Academy Songs Vol. 1, and remixed the entire thing into a nine-minute song titled “Through ‘Til The Morning.” Sounds kind of intimidating, but even at nine minutes the track is absolutely overflowing with ideas yet never feels like a patchwork of songs. It’s a total journey, and hearing how it gets from its electronics-with-field-recording opening to a full-on tribal freak-out has just gotten more enjoyable with each listen. But what does this have to do with LGBT Pride Month, you ask? Well, both Markland Starkie (of Sleeping States) and John Orth (of Holopaw) are openly gay, and a portion of the sales go to The Point Foundation, a group set up to help support LGBTQ students. Give the track a listen below and check out the A-side by Sleeping States via OUT Magazine.

Please note: a portion of proceeds from album sales will go to The Point Foundation–an organization designed to help LGBTQ students achieve their full academic and leadership potential, despite obstacles put before them (pointfoundation.org).

Recap: Holopaw‘s John Orth and Sleeping States‘ Markland Starkie are both openly gay Misra artists. The label approached the two wildly talented frontmen about this release in early 2013. We are all extremely elated it’s coming together.

“Starkie sings in a breathless lilting croon”
- Pitchfork on Sleeping States (8.0)

Bristol, UK’s Sleeping States and Gainesville, Florida’s Holopaw will release a split 12” on June 18, 2013 in celebration of LGBT Pride Month. The graceful voices of Markland Starkie (Sleeping States) and John Orth (Holopaw), both openly gay musicians, ride above innovative rock & roll on this momentous release.

Cut at 45 RPM and pressed on pink vinyl by Furnace MFG, the split 12” consists of two unique EPs. Sleeping States’ Old vs. New is a reworking of older songs in a newer context and was originally released overseas via Bella Union. Holopaw’s Through ‘til the Morning is a nonpareil nine-minute remix of Academy Songs, Volume I (Misra; 2013) done by Brian Deck. A member of Red Red Meat and Califone, Deck has produced records for Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Holopaw, Ugly Casanova (Orth’s collaboration with Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock) and more. The remix also features additional tracking from Califone’s Benny Massarella.

Sleeping States makes its way through five songs in just over ten minutes. From the nimble “Planning My Escape” and “A Trip to NYC” to the unruly title track, “Liberty Feelup” (a cover originally by Scottish art-pop band, Life Without Buildings) and “Trumpet Calls,” the momentum on Old vs. New never dies. As Pitchfork remarked in their 8.0 review of Sleeping States’ last album, In the Gardens of the North, “Starkie sings in a breathless lilting croon.” Indeed, Markland Starkie’s gorgeous voice is at its strongest on this sharp, short, sweet collection.

Brian Deck’s remix of Holopaw’s Academy Songs, Volume I fuses the original songs in a breathtaking manner. Academy is intended to be an extremely imprecise concept album set at an all-boys preparatory academy, however, those notions are set aside as Deck blends the record into a beguiling nine-minute dream. Glimpses of the characters’ escapades and emotions surface but are quickly curtailed and melded from one sonic vignette to another. It’s an impressive amalgamation. Earlier this year, OUT Magazine beamed that Orth’s work was “gorgeous,” saying “We want more, John!” Well, here it is.

The Sleeping States / Holopaw LGBT Pride Month release is packaged in a minimalist kraft board sleeve revealing the pink triangle – an international symbol of gay pride and gay rights. Appropriated from Nazi Germany, the pink triangle was once displayed upside down and used to identify gay men in concentration camps. The packaging on this release is designed to resemble the unmarked “physique” journals of the mid-twentieth century.

The talents of both Starkie and Orth have long impressed Misra Records. With a dire need for equality still unmet in the LGBT community, do help us celebrate two of our finest artists. These are beautiful voices of gay pride!